Improvement in apparatus for recording votes



2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. E. BEARDSLEY, A. F. BOYLE, E. M. LEWIS &

M.A.OLAN0Y. APPARATUS FOR RECORDING VOTES No. 69,389. Patented 001;. 1,1867.

"m: cams PETERS cc PHUTQLFFMO" wiswucmn, Iav c,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. E. BEARDSLEY, A. F. BOYLE, E. M. LEWIS 82;

M. A. GLANGY. APPARATUS FOR RECORDING VOTES.

No. 69,889. Patented Oct. 1, 1867.

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JAMES E; BEARDSLEY, AUcUsTUs F. isorLnnnoon Lnwis, AND MicnAnL A.CLANGY, or WASHINGTON. DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

Lam-R Pr fent N0. 69,389, (and 0mm 1.1867

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR RECORDING VOTES.

- To ALL WHOM IT MAY oononniv.

Beit known that we, JAMES E BEARDSLEY, Aunus'rus F. BOYLE,ENOC1[ M.LEWIS, and MICHAEL A. Owner, of the city of Washington, in the county ofWashington, and in the District of Columbia, have invented an Apparatusfor Calling the Bell and Recording the Votes in Deliberative Assemblies;and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings. and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a partof this specification.

Our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of mechanismfor taking the votes of legislalive or other assemblies" in a shortspace of time, and without the confusion now oftentimes experienced incollecting properly the votes of members viva race.

This invention is intended to he placed at the principal tnblcor desk inthe hall, or in any conspicuous or suitable place. A dev e, thecounterpartof thc one herein described, will be used for recording thenegatlve k while this one is used for the afiirmative, or vi e I'm-so. Awire or other suitable, material is passed from the appuratus'to thetable of the voter, so that upon drawing the affirmative or the negativewire his vote is recorded, and indicntingto himself or hist'cllow-lncmlmrs how or when he has voted. In addition to i evoting thisinvention prints the name of each voter, so that the teller in summingup has'thc names and the geord of the vote all at one operation. Thismachine may also be used to call the roll of the members.

Figure 1 of the annexed drawings represents the frontof the machine witha broken section, showing the rollers around which is passed the paperto be printed.

Figure 2 represents a front view of the second interior plate or disk ofthe machine.

Figure 3,'a small section of the rear of the dr um, showing thespring-catch.

Figure 4, a rear view of the circular disk in' the rear of the plate B,showing the cams and springs which operate the voting-plates.

Figure 5, a section of the apparatus for voting and printing.

Figure 6, a front view of the main-spring, which is attached totl'efront of the rear plate D, showing. the construction of the pawls andratehets connected thereto. 7

Figure 7, a view of the metal plate, within which the end of the pawl91. on the front of the spring H is passed.

Figures, an interior view of the machine taken between the two rearplates.

Figure 9, a view of the printing-drum and rollers.

Figure 10, a front view of the disk C.

Figure 11, aside elevation of the machine.

In the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, Arepresents a circular metallic disk, which is correctly divided intosections on its face, and provided with a number on each section. Thisdial may have any required amount of numbers, and can lJE-El'liltlfi ofa size to suit the size of the machine, or the sized body for which themachine is intended to he used. A circle is made inside of the numbers,and a flange, A, formed on the disk, which projects inwards, and isprovided with a series of slots, 0 a',"at regular intervals, the objectof which will be hereinafter set forth. The'formatiou of the flange A,asdcscribed, leaves a suitable receptacle for the insertion of the drumE, to which are attached the rollers for printing, so that when thusplaced the outer facc'of the drum is'flush with the face of the dial,which dial may be ornamented in any suitable manner. Drdinarily theentire machine will be enclosed in a neat box with the dial-plateoutside. Directly in the rear of the flange A is the disk B, fig. 2,which is also circular, and is connected to the disk A by suitable boltsa a. The circumference of this disk has a series of narrow slots, placedin pairs, as shown, to allow the elevation or depression of the U-shapedbar, to which is connected the voting-indicator. This disk has alsogrnarrow slot below and between the slots y for the passage of the endsof the metal plates P, to which the type-jacket and type are fastened.The central portion of the plate is taken out, so that a four-armed bar,F, is formed, which bar has two of its points, ff', slightly bevelledfor the operation of the doublc catch spring d on the back of the drain,to be set forth hereafter. In the rear of this disk B is a smallercircular plate, G, fig. 4, which is placed between disks l3 and C. Saidplate is used for throwing the plates P in position for voting, midispro .2 cacao vi-ded with a small metal plate with a curved point, It, onone of its sides, which extends beyond the circnmfer encc .thereof, andwhich is placed above a spring, 74, lying on the side of the plate. Onthe other side of the plate, nearly opposite the plate It, is formed asmall metal jacket, into which is set a small bar, 1', having a roundedupper end, and a pin on its lower end,- which passes through the jacketand is attached to the rear spring j connected to the central shaft, bywhich it is operated. In the rear of this plate G is the disk 0, fig.10, provided with two narrow grooves v v near its centre, having springstransversely placed at the to of each, and into which grooves works apin, m, on the face of the bar 2'. It will be understood that theplale Gis used for the twofold purpose of readjusting the voting-bars P and foroperating the large hand 1 on the dial-plate. as well as for the purposeof operating printing-drum E. On thshaft 0, in front ofthe plate G,there is a hollow shaft, (P, having a ratchet-wheel, k, which lies in anopening in the centre of this plate, which ratchet has a pin oh itsface, against which is the point of the metal jacket r The forward endof 'bar I: has a stem, which is passed through this jacket, and whichwill catch into the ratchet when the said bar is thrown down by itspassage under the voting-bars. (See fig. 2, dotted lines.) lrepresentsa'lug on the face of plate G, which catches into the double .catch (Z onthe back of the drum E, for revolving the same. P P P represent. theVotinghars, the ends of which are passed into openings in the plate C,and die on the face of said plate, so

that their inner ends rest just outside of the periphery of'thc plate G,and to be thrown in position by the bar 2' on said plate. Between theouter ends of these bars there is a stud on the face of this disk, whichhas a steel spring, W W, fig. 10, connected to it, so that the endsthereof shall press upon the outer ends of the plates P, and throw theminto position for the plate I: to operate them. It will thus be seenthat one spring is made .to answer for every two of the voting-bars P onthe disk.

To illustrate the mode of voting, we will describe one apparatus,the-parts of which are shown in fig. 5 of the annexed drawings. Similardevices to the ones therein shown are to be used for and in the rear ofeach number on the dial-plate.

Between the disks B and C are the plates P, as heretofore described.These plates are narrow strips of metal, having an ear at the upper endwhich extends through and slightly to the rear of the disk C, andaportion opposite this car, which extends through the plate B, as seenin fig. 2. The edges of these plates, which lie against the face of diskC, have two small notches cut into them, as 9:, while the lower endshave projecting points, which lie in the slots in plate C. 2 representsthe metal casing, which is connected to the forward partof the plate P,and into which are placed the typejaekct and type, which are securelyheld therein by the setscrew, as shown. The red lines in fig. 5 show theposition of the disk B, with the type in front of said disk. Upon therear face of disk C there is a series of flat metal springs, R, (see redlines, fig. 10,) whiclrradiatc from the centre of the disk, and arepivoted near the horizontal shaft 0, which passes through the centre ofthe entire machine. One of these springs R lies inthe rear of each barP, and is providedwith a pin, L, (sec figs. 2, 10, and 5,) which passesthrough the disk C near the inner end of the plate P. 6' represents apin, haying a coil spring around it, which extends from the rear of therear plate D to and through the plate C, where the end is rested in oneof the notches as or .11 in the edge of plate P. This pin has two smallpins near its forward end, and passes through the top portion of thespring R. Between the two small pins on the end of this pin is placedacslotted lever, N, which lev cr'is pivoted to the ear of the bar P, andextends up above the machine. The object of this lever is to change thevote of the member who desires to do so after having voted, and withoutnecessitating a change of all the voting-bars, by the method to be fullyset forth. 0 represeats a U-shaped metal bar, having a square or othershaped metal plate, X, at its forward end, with any number on itsface,which we prefer to call the voting-indicator. The forward parts of thisbar pass into the slots 3/ in the disk B, while at the rear end is abar, having a narrow slot where it'is pivoted to the rear of disk C. Theend of this baris pivoted to a small upright bar, 8 which said bar isalso pivoted to the extremity of the ear on bar P. The end of rod b isslotted, as shown, and into which is secured the upper end of an angularbar, b, which bar is pivoted at the bend thereof'to studs in the rear ofplate D. The wire which runs from the desk of the member is attached tothe other end of this bar 6, so that by drawing the wire the end of thebar is carried down, drawing the pin'b to the rear, and releasing itsend from the notch 21: in plate P, causing said plate, by means of thespring W, to be forced to the centre, carrying with it bar a" and therear end of bar 0, this causing the voting-indicator X to be thrown up,as shown in fig. Q. When the end of pin 6 is taken from notch :19, thespring around it is compressed, so that immediately after the bar P isdrawn far enough towards the centre of the plate thc pin will be againcarried, by the recoil of the spring, to the next notch, z, and hold theindicator in position. H represents a coil spring, within a suitable boxaround a short shaft passing from disk D to disk 0, having its bearingon the front of disk D. Upon this shaft, between theldisks, are tworatchet-wheels, 1) p. The ratchet p is held by the pawl n and spring 0',and is placed upon the front of the spring-box H. Iivoted on the face ofthis ratchet are two eccentric-shaped pawls 0 0, (see fig. 6,) which arenearly semicircular in form, and provided with heads that projectforward, so as to catch into. the teeth of the forward ratchet p. Thislatter ratchet is secured upon the rear face of the cog-wheel s, whichencircles the shaft. K represents a clutch-fork, which extends above thetop of the machine, and clutches around a collar, r, around the shaft infront of the wheel a. On the opposite side of wheel 8, on said shaft.between the pawls o is a conical-shaped metal block, q, which isconnected to the collar 1' at the end of the clutch K by means of smallpins a: re, which pass through the wheel a and ratchctp'. .Thc clutch Khas its fulcrum ust above the cpllantg, and has a metal plate, in,connected to it near its top. This plate m"', fig. 7, has a tenon formedon eac end, and works back and forth with the lover or clutch in anopening in the disk D. The top of the vertical pawl it passes through anL-shapod opening in this plate, and by this means is released from theratchet p, as desired.

in is a slotted plate. through which the top end of pawl m is pass cd,which acts as a guide to keep said pawl lll proper position. creprcscntsthe main shaft, which passes through the entire machine. At the rear ofthis shaft is wound a small coil spring, I, and is also provided with acog-wheel, t, between the disks D C, and which said wheel meshes intothe cog-wheel .x upon a short shaft opposite to spring-shaft. There aretwo cog-wheels upon this shaft, one of which meshes into the wheel 2,while the otheris meshed into wheel a on the main-spring shaft. drepresents a hollow shaft encircling the shaft c, and extending to thefront of the dial-face. This shaft has a small spring on its outside,12", so that it may be held tightly within the socket f, fig. 2, in thecentre'of the plate F of disk B. E represents the printing-drum, whichis placed ,in the receptacle formed in the dial-plate A, and which saiddrum is composed of two circular disks, with an inner circle, g, 9, forthe passage of the ends of the roller-bars. Between the disks of thisdrum is placed a series of rollers, which have tenons ou each side, e e,figs. I and 9, that work into small groo es on the disks. These rollersf are set into metal cups having pins, which radiate to the commoncentre, said pins being provided with spiral springs, so as to keep theouter surface of the rollers to the circumference of the disks. W, figs.1 and 11, represents the reel on which the paper is wound, and which ispassed from said reel down under a roller, 6, into an opening in flangeA, and passed around the entire series of rolle s ff in the drum E. Onthe outside of the flange A is passed an inked ribbon, (not shown,)which is wound around the reel w, and, after passing :rouud the flange,connected to the opposite reel 10 Between and beneath these reels aresmall rollers 4 5 6 7, under which are passed the band and paper, so asto keep them stretched and guided.

Having described the mechanism of this invention we will now proceed toset forth in detail the practical operation thereof.

It will be understood that the principal parts of the-uiachine areconstructed of metal, and that nearly all the portions radiate from thecommon centre, (shaft 0.) In putting the machine together the smallspring I on the rear end of shaft 0 is wound as tightly as it will admitof being, and the large spring is wound from the rear of disk D by a keyon the end of its shaft. Usually the plates P are thrown to allow thebars 12 to rest in the notches 2:,50 that, as soon as a member hasvoted, the plate X will at once be thrown up, and indicate the fact.After the voting is finished it becomes necessary to count the votes,print the names, and to readjust the machine for the next operation.These functions are performed by means of the springs and gearing in therear part of the machine. It will be seen that the dial-plate isprovided with a large and small hand, i 2, and that the large hand isencircled around the hollow shaft (Z while the small hand is around themain shaft a. After the members have voted the operator throws theclutch K towards the disk D, thereby forcing the cone q between thepoints of the pawls u c, releasing the ratchet p, and causing theforward movement of the disk G stationed on the shaft c by means ofspring I on said shaft. As the disk G is carried around, its plate Itstrikes under the inn\er edge of each of the plates P that have beenoperated by the voter. As it is thus passed the pin a is forced into theratchet Ir, and causes the large hand 1 to he carried to one of thenumbers on the dial. As the disk G is carried around, the end of the bar71, being thrown out by its spring, will strike under the bar P that hasbeen. operated upon. This will cause the pin f to catch into the ratchetand carry hand 1 to the first number on the dial. Should one member notvote, the spring will keep plate k cat, and the pin out of the latchet,causing the hand to remain stationary until the plate shall again strikea bar that has been operated upon. Both the large and small hands startat one time if the number one member votes, and the small hand willrevolve entir ly around the dial without stopping. The small hand 2 willrevolve around the entire plate, as aforesaid, while the large hand willindicate the exact number of the votes taken. When passing around, theplate G, by means of its lug I, is caught into the rear of theprinting-drum E, between the shoulders on the double catch (F, andrevolves the drum, so that the rollers f will pass under the lot in theflange A, above which are the type and box, already thrown down by thebars P, so that the impression with the member's name is taken on thepaper as it passes. It is only necessary for the drum to partiallyrevolve to impress, consequently the lug I is released from the catch (Zbetweeuthc bevelled points f f in the plate F. After the printing isdone and the votes counted the clutch K is again brought forward, sothat the shaft is allowed to be turned by means of the large spring H,which again winds up the small spring I, and the disk G made to turnbackwards, so that the curved point z'will strike the pins 6 on thesprings R, so as to cause the throwing outwards of the bars l, wherebythey are readjusted for the next voting. It will be seen that the point'1' forces the bars P outward, and the springs R force back the rods 6,so that said rods on the recoil of their springs will catch into thesecond notch'rr as the bars are forced up. Upon the face of the drum Ethere is a card, (Z, for the name of each member, which is directlyinside of the number on the dial. In the backward movement of disk G thepin 9 on the outside of the pin r catches against a small pin, 8, on theface of the ratchet, and thereby re-turns the ratchet, and brings thehands 1 2 hack to their normal positions.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The arrangement of the bars P with jacket and type .2, bars 0 withindicators X connected to bars P by the short bar s rods 6, and springswith angular bars I, when used with the disks C and D and lever N, inthe manner and for the purposes herein specified.

2. The dial-plate A, with its flange A and hands 1 2, when arranged incombination with the drum E, as constructed in the manner and for thepurposes herein set forth.

3. The metallic disk C, with its springs W W and slots, and providedwith the radiating flat springs R on its back, in the manner and for thepurposes specified.

4. The disk B, provided witlrits narrow-paired slots y I for guiding theU-shaped bars 0 and plate F, as constructed and arranged as set forth.

5. The circular disk G, with point 1', pin :2, and spring 3' on its rearface, and with bar IL, spring It, pin 1"", and pin 9 on the front face,incombination with the hollow shaft f and ratchet k, as and for thepurposes herein fully described.

6. The arrangement of the clutch K with cone q and penis o o, incombination with the rntchets p spring-shaft and spring H, plates m m,and cogs s s, in the manner substantially as and for the purposes hereinspecified.

7. The drum E, with its rollers ff, band 1, and double catch d whenarranged and used in the mannex and for the purposes herein specified.

8. The disks A, B, G, D, and G, with the drum E, when constructed asspecified, with the voting devices and gearing for taking, counting, andprinting the voters names in the manner and by the operationsubstantially as herein fully set forth.

In testimony that we eia-im the foregoing we have hereunto set our handsthis 19th day of June, 1857.

JAMES E. BEARDSLEY. 'A. F. BOYLE. ENOCH M. LEWIS,

Witnesses: I MICHAEL A. CLANCY.

F. F. KIRBY,

THOS. JACKSON.

